1939 Masters: Ralph Guldahl wins at Augusta National Golf Club

Ralph Guldahl won the 1939 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club with 279 (−9), by 1 stroke over Sam Snead.

Updated October 23, 2026

See 1939 in the Masters room, or every year on the Masters winners list.

Dates: March 30, 1939 to April 2, 1939
Course: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia
Edition: 6th Masters
Par: 72 · 6,800 yards
Purse: $5,000 · winner's share $1,500
Champion: Ralph Guldahl · age 27 · United States · born Dallas, Texas, USA
Champion's title: 1st Masters title
Winning score: 72-68-70-69 = 279 (−9) · won by 1 stroke
Runner-up: Sam Snead (280, −8)
54-hole leader: Ralph Guldahl (210, −6)
Low amateur: Chick Harbert; Charlie Yates (296)

Winner and runner-up

Pos.	Player	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total	To par
1	Ralph Guldahl	72	68	70	69	279	−9
2	Sam Snead	70	70	72	68	280	−8

What happened at the 1939 Masters

1939 was the first year the event was officially called the Masters Tournament rather than the Augusta National Invitation Tournament.

Guldahl's 279 set a 72-hole tournament record that stood until 1953, after he had finished second in each of the two previous Masters.

How this was built

Every value is shown as recorded in GNN's The Masters data. A value no source confirmed is left out; nothing is estimated. Where sources disagree, the organizer's own record is used.

Data: masters.json (the Masters room's data).

1939 Masters: Ralph Guldahl wins at Augusta National Golf Club

Winner and runner-up

What happened at the 1939 Masters

How this was built

Sources